Perineal heating device

ABSTRACT

A perineal heating device embodying a centrally disposed, open ended generally cylindrical portion carrying the heat source, such as an incandescent lamp. Leg rests or lateral wings extend outwardly from the central portion and are formed integrally therewith. An opening may be provided through the rear wall of the cylindrical portion or through the lateral wings so that air is thermally induced through the opening or openings and exists forwardly into contact with the patient&#39;&#39;s body.

United States Pat ent Wideman [451 July 11, 1972 54] PERINEAL HEATINGDEVICE 1,577,277 3/1926 Wolfe ..l28/399 x [72] Inventor: Gilda L wmmm'Birmingham, Ala 2.778323 1/1957 Armstrong et al. ................128/396X [73] Assignees: Don Green; Bruce L. Gordon; L. Clark Pn'mm li mimr L.W. Trapp GflWlR. Birmingham. Attorney-Jennings, Carter 8: Thompson 22F'l d: March 10 I971 I 1 57 ABSTRACT [2|] App]. No.: 122,824

A penneal heating device embodying a centrally disposed, open endedgenerally cylindrical portion carrying the heat [52] U.S.Cl ..l28/395,l28/400 source. such as an incandescent |amp beg tests or u Int. Cl. t dt dly f th t l p ti d are 400, 1721, [84, formed therewih An p g y beprovided 402 through the rear wall of the cylindrical portion or throughthe lateral wings so that air is thermally induced through the open-[56] Reta-am Cited ing or openings and exists forwardly into contactwith the pa UNITED STATES PATENTS Ham's yl,430,354 9/1922 Burdick..l28/395 6Clam4DrawlngHgurcs PERINEAL HEATING DEVICE This inventionrelates to a device useful for heat treatment of the perineum of thehuman body and has for an object the provision of a simple, inexpensiveand efiective device of the character designated.

In the post operative or post natal care of patients it is desirable tosubject the perineum to heat, preferably in the form of moving, heatedair for the purpose of promoting circulation and for drying. Thistreatment preferably is carried out with the patient lying on his backand preferably with the knees slightly elevated above the general levelof the lower torso. Prior devices known to me and used for suchtreatment usually consist essentially of a holder and shield for theheat source such as an incandescent lamp. Little attention has been paidto means for holding the heat lamp properly directed relative to theparts of the body to be heated nor to preventing veinous obstructions bylowering the leg rests nor to making such devices of material cheapenough for individual, disposable use by each patient. With priordevices problems of sterilization to prevent cross transmission ofinfection from one patient to another have been encountered. Further, sofar as I am aware, no means heretofore has been devised to cause heatedair, due simply to thermal action, to flow from a heat source outwardlyinto contact with the patients body.

In view of the foregoing I propose a perineal heating device comprisingan integral body of relatively cheap plastic material such as Styrofoam,a central cylindrical portion of which carries the heat source and fromwhich central portion are carried laterally projecting leg rests orsupports, the leg rests being contoured fore and aft and laterally forcomfortable, elevated support of the legs of a patient lying on hisback. The heat source may be an incandescent lamp and is locatedinwardly of the front face of the body to hold the same safely out ofcontact with the patient.

A device illustrating features of my invention is shown in theaccompanying drawing forming a part of this application in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view;

FIG. 2 is a plan view with certain parts broken away and in section;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view; and,

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG.2.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my inventionthe same may consist of an integrally formed body of relatively cheap,relatively light and fairly good heat insulating material such forinstance as Styrofoam or similar product. Thus, the body portion maycomprise the centrally disposed generally cylindrical portion andlaterally, outwardly projecting leg support portions II and 12. Asshown, the leg supports are of less height than the central portion 10.

As stated, the portion 10 is provided with a centrally located openinggenerally cylindrical, and indicated at 13. This opening terminates in avertically disposed wall 14 and the opening 13 is deep enough, fore andaft, to accommodate the usual incandescent heating lamp 16 which may bemounted in a socket l7 embedded in the solid rear portion 18, formingthe back of the cylindrical portion 10.

Located beneath the lamp I6, and extending through the solid rear wallportion 18 is an opening 19. Also, lateral openings 19a extend throughthe leg support portions 11 and 12 and communicate with the opening 19,as shown. As will presently appear, the openings 19 and 19a permit airto be drawn thermally from the rear and sides of the device andpropelled outwardly, into contact with the patients body as shown by thearrows 2] in the drawings.

The leg rest portions 11 and 12 as viewed in front elevation are concavethat is, they are shaped as shown in FIG. 1 generally to the shape ofthe rear of a persons legs, in the thigh areas. As viewed in sideelevation, and at a point generally along section line 4-4, the forwardsloping surfaces I la and 12a rise upwardly, on a rather gentle slope tothe apex llb and 12b and thence downwardly at more of a slope, to therear of the body portion. Thus, it will be seen that the leg portions 11and 12 are so contoured and shaped as to support in comfortable mannerthe legs of the person and to largely eliminate veinous obstruction.

It will also be understood that current for the lamp may be supplied tothe same through the usual wires 22. Furthermore, the opening 13 in thecentral portion 10 may be flared so that the diameter of the same at thefront of the device, that is, the side facing the patient, is slightlylarger than the rear of the opening 13. This affords a somewhat greateropportunity for the heated air to take the course indicated by thearrows, and to impinge outwardly onto the body of the patient.

In view of the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised animproved, simple, economical and effective perineal heating device.Since the device is constructed of extremely cheap material one may beprovided each individual patient, while being treated in the hospitaland the patient may take the device home as a part of the post hospitaltreatment. It will be seen that with a patient lying on his back and thedevice positioned so that the front thereof is approximately 6 to 8inches from his body, and current supplied to the lamp, with the legsresting on the leg rests 11 and 12, heated, drying air moves inaccordance with the arrows from the openings 19 and into the cylindricalopening 13 and thence outwardly into contact with the patients body asshown by the arrows 21. The flow of air thus produced is due solely tothe thermal action, and no mechanical devices such as fans and the likeare required.

My invention has proven to be extremely practical and satisfactory andas stated eliminates two of the major difficulties with prior devices,namely, the cross transmission of infection due to the reuse of the samedevice by different patients and by and large, due to the contour of theleg rests 11 and I2, eliminates veinous obstruction in the leg areas.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various other changes and modifications without departing from thespirit thereof.

What I claim is:

I. In a perineal heating device,

a. an integrally formed body comprising a central portion and leg restportions extending outwardly from the central portion,

b. said central portion embodying a forwardly opening cylindricalsection, and

c. a source of heat in the cylindrical portion inset thereinto inwardlyof the forward face of the body, whereby heat from said source may bedirected against the perineum of a person using the device.

2. A heating device according to claim 1 in which there is an openingthrough the rear end of the cylindrical portion thereby to provide aflow of air through the device and outwardly thereof in response to heatgenerated by the heat source, whereby a circulation of heated air ismaintained against the perineum of a person using the device.

3. A device according to claim 2 in which the opening is located beneaththe heat source so that air is thermally drawn through said opening fromthe rear of the device and passes upwardly about and thence outwardly ofthe heat source for impingement against the body of a person using thedevice.

4. A device according to claim 1 in which said leg rest portions are ofless height than the top of the central portion and have upper surfaceswhich are concave as viewed in front elevation.

5. A device defined in claim 1 in which the leg rest portions are ofless height than the top of the central portion and are concave asviewed in front elevation and which as viewed in end elevation slopeupwardly from the front edges to a rounded apex and then downwardlytoward the rear of the device, thereby to support in comfortable mannerthe legs of a person using the device and reduce veinous obstruction ofthe legs.

6. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which there are openingsthrough at least one of the leg rest portions in communication with theopening in the central portion, thereby nnnn permitting air to flowthrough said leg test into the central por- A tion and thence outwardlyinto contact with the perineum of a person using the device.

1. In a perineal heating device, a. an integrally formed body comprisinga central portion and leg rest portions extending outwardly from thecentral portion, b. said central portion embodying a forwardly openingcylindrical section, and c. a source of heat in the cylindrical portioninset thereinto inwardly of the forward face of the body, whereby heatfrom said source may be directed against the perineum of a person usingthe device.
 2. A heating device according to claim 1 in which there isan opening through the rear end of the cylindricaL portion thereby toprovide a flow of air through the device and outwardly thereof inresponse to heat generated by the heat source, whereby a circulation ofheated air is maintained against the perineum of a person using thedevice.
 3. A device according to claim 2 in which the opening is locatedbeneath the heat source so that air is thermally drawn through saidopening from the rear of the device and passes upwardly about and thenceoutwardly of the heat source for impingement against the body of aperson using the device.
 4. A device according to claim 1 in which saidleg rest portions are of less height than the top of the central portionand have upper surfaces which are concave as viewed in front elevation.5. A device defined in claim 1 in which the leg rest portions are ofless height than the top of the central portion and are concave asviewed in front elevation and which as viewed in end elevation slopeupwardly from the front edges to a rounded apex and then downwardlytoward the rear of the device, thereby to support in comfortable mannerthe legs of a person using the device and reduce veinous obstruction ofthe legs.
 6. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which there areopenings through at least one of the leg rest portions in communicationwith the opening in the central portion, thereby permitting air to flowthrough said leg rest into the central portion and thence outwardly intocontact with the perineum of a person using the device.